Have you ever felt guilty about focusing on self-care or beauty when the world is falling apart? Because I have. People are dying and I am worried about the size of my pores? Does that make me shallow?
Answer: No, it doesn’t.
You must force yourself to hold onto normalcy and inject your life with fun little rituals that make life special.
Here are some affirmations that help me manage this destructive guilt. Suffering is relative. Others may have it worse. But to my brain and the stress ravaging my system, my pain is sacrosanct. My experience is valid and I have to fill my cup first before I can be of help to anyone else.
Self-care is supporting yourself
At its core, self-care is about supporting yourself. About providing an outlet to process the tumult you’re facing. Manicures and face masks are more than pretty nails and glowing skin. It’s about holding space and connecting with yourself, about letting the thoughts and tensions bubbling beneath the surface come to the forefront and about letting your mind and body feel safe in the present. By practicing feel-good beauty rituals, you signal to your brain not too take the current situation of the world so seriously. This too shall pass.
My first brush with self-care
Growing up in India, I watched with fascination as households full of women slathered all sorts of bright green, yellow, white, brown and pink concoctions over their faces and necks. All these ingredients came directly from plants and the recipes were handed down by a certain favourite aunt or grandma. I’ve carefully collected these recipes over the years. They’ve directly influenced my startup Pure Mitti which is all about powerhouse natural ingredients. Today I am sharing with you four natural beauty recipes that will turn your next self-care session into a nourishing affair for skin and soul.
In-house spa day
For best results, prep for an at home spa day. Apply the face and hair masks together. Sip chilled wine with a straw, listen to classical music, practice deep breathing or just binge your favorite TV shows while the masks work their magic. Finish up with a shower and moisturizer and feel like a movie star all day long.
Intensely hydrating face masks
Yogurt, honey and pomegranate face mask:
Ingredients:
2 table spoons yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
Seeds from half a pomegranate.
Method:
Blend the pomegranate seeds into a thick paste.
Lightly whisk the honey, yogurt and pomegranate paste in a bowl until it forms a smooth paste.
Apply evenly across your freshly washed face and neck. Keep for thirty minutes (or longer if you like) before washing off.
Both yogurt and pomegranate rejuvenate the skin and contain skin brightening agents and anti aging properties because of its antioxidants.
Yogurt, honey and turmeric face mask:
Ingredients:
2 table spoons yogurt
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon honey
Method:
Lightly whisk the honey, yogurt and turmeric in a bowl until it forms a smooth paste.
Apply evenly across your freshly washed face and neck. Keep for thirty minutes (or longer if you like) before washing off.
Nourishing hair masks
Avacado hair mask:
Ingredients:
Avacado- 1 ripe
Olive oil - 1tbsp
Honey - 1 tsp
Egg yolk -1 ( optional)
Coconut milk - 1/2 cup (optional)
Method:
Put the avocado pulp, olive oil, honey (and egg yolk and coconut milk if using) Blend it in a blender with water, to a smooth and creamy paste. (use more water to make the mask thinner.)
Apply to your dry hair
Use an old cotton t-shirt or cloth to tie a makeshift turban on your head.
Keep for 20-30 mins or two while you chill.
Shampoo well. Condition as usual.
Yogurt, egg and olive oil hair mask:
Ingredients:
1 egg
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons yogurt
Disclaimer: This one’s a little messy but it’s worth the effort. It’s full of live enzymes and fatty acids that strengthen hair follicles, promote hair growth and result in seriously lustrous locks. Don’t balk at putting eggs on your hair, it’s seriously a game-changer.
Method:
Blend the ingredients together until it forms a smooth paste.
Gently massage in the mixture on your tresses.
Wrap an old cotton t-shirt or cloth like a turban on your head.
Chill for an hour or two as you rub oil into your cuticles, apply face masks or just binge Netflix.
Shampoo well and condition as usual.
A weekly self-care beauty session
Though your skin will glow and you’ll observe a noticeable difference in your hair texture right after washing off the face and hair masks, the best results are obtained when these are done consistently. Set aside one day a week as your in-house spa day and go to town making skin and hair-care masks out of what’s in your kitchen. You’ll look good, you’ll feel good and you’ll be good.
Happy self-caring.